APOPKA, Fla. – Matthews Cremation, a division of Matthews International Corp., and leading manufacturer and supplier of environmentally-driven cremation solutions, has announced plans to expand its already extensive training and development offerings with new professional- and executive-level crematory operations management training, according to a news release.

“The Matthews School of Cremation now offers two additional continuing education opportunities built upon the foundation and success of our standard Crematory Operator Certification Program,” said Ronald Salvatore, division manager of sales and marketing. “These professional- and expert-level courses contain a wealth of vital operational, management and ownership information not offered anywhere else.”

“We are being asked for more advanced certification workshops,” said Steven Schaal, president of the North American region for Matthews Cremation. “The accelerated demand for cremation services coupled with the necessity for crematory operations excellence has fueled a need for an advanced level of expertise beyond the basics of COCP.”

In 1985, Matthews Cremation hosted the first-ever Crematory Operator Certification Program in Chicago, Ill. Since then, its professional instructors have presented Matthews Crematory Operator Certification Programs for virtually every national funeral-related association and most state and Canadian provincial associations, as well as numerous mortuary science schools.

“Matthews Cremation has set the standard for combustion and cremation equipment for over 60 years,” added Schaal. “We are going to continue to work with industry leaders and experts to shape the future of cremation.”

The Matthews School of Cremation will offer all three levels of curriculum coursework during the last half of 2013: